OCFA Investigation Finds No Retaliation Against Employees For Missed HazMat Inspections

An independent investigator found no evidence of Orange County Fire Authority managers retaliating against employees over allegations the fire agency charged thousands of businesses for hazardous materials inspections that were never done, the authority announced Monday.

Anonymous complaints received by Fire Chief Keith Richter Jan. 23, Feb. 20 and Feb. 24 via a fraud hotline prompted OCFA lawyers to hire an impartial investigator, who interviewed 29 current and former employees and reviewed about 55 documents as part of her investigation, according to Battalion Chief Kelly Zimmerman.

The investigator's report and employee statements made to her are not public, because of confidentiality laws, but Zimmerman said she concluded "the evidence did not support any of the allegations of retaliation brought against OCFA management, so the claims were not sustained," Zimmerman said.

More than a year ago, the OCFA admitted the charges and started refunding some $1.7 million for 4,700 inspections that were billed but couldn't be verified.

—City News Service.